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Hoosier Lottery not actively lobbying lawmakers to allow online lottery

The Hoosier Lottery nearly added online games a few years ago before legislators halted that effort.
The Hoosier Lottery nearly added online games a few years ago before legislators halted that effort.

State lottery officials said they’re not lobbying lawmakers in a bid to allow online lottery.

The Hoosier Lottery nearly added online games a few years ago before  legislators halted that effort.

State lawmakers  passed a bill in 2022 that required the Hoosier Lottery to get legislative approval to add online games. Since then, the lottery has been passive when it comes to advocating for online expansion — taking what Executive Director Sarah Taylor called an educational-informational approach.

But Taylor also noted that, as the Hoosier Lottery celebrates an anniversary, it’s been selling the same types of games the same way for 35 years.

“Folks have changed,” Taylor said. “We’re looking to sustain the lottery for quite some time.”

READ MORE: Hoosier Lottery taking cautious approach to business plan as economic worries soften revenues

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A House committee approved a bill legalizing online lottery this year. But that bill  didn’t advance any further.

It’s likely similar legislation will be offered again next year.

Brandon is our Statehouse bureau chief. Contact him at  bsmith@ipbs.org  or follow him on Twitter at  @brandonjsmith5 .

Brandon J. Smith has previously worked as a reporter and anchor for KBIA Radio in Columbia, MO. Prior to that, he worked for WSPY Radio in Plano, IL as a show host, reporter, producer and anchor. His first job in radio was in another state capitol, in Jefferson City, as a reporter for three radio stations around Missouri. Brandon graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor of Journalism in 2010, with minors in political science and history. He was born and raised in Chicago.